Greene comes up short in Class C state title game

QUEENSBURY – Two teams not even ranked among the top three-seeded teams in three own sectional tournament played for top billing in the Class C softball finals late Saturday afternoon at Adirondack Park.

Greenwich, returning all of its starting lineup from last year’s state semifinals club, rode the hot bat of Dani DeGregory to a 5-2 championship win over the Greene Trojans (21-5).

The Witches broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth scoring a trio of runs. DeGregory, 3-for-3 with three RBI in the title game, broke the deadlock with an RBI double, and Abby Dusha provided a three-run cushion backing up that two-bagger with a two-run double.

Greene threatened heavily the last three innings, but managed just a pair of runs in the fifth. “I really haven’t seen such a confident team in the batter’s box,” said Greene head coach Rick Smith of the Witches. “It’s amazing that they were only a fifth seed in their sectional tournament. They’re from the Saratoga area, so they must have had some tough competition all year.”

Greenwich (20-8) had Greene on its heels in the opening inning. Ashley Maines, also 3-for-3 on the Bears’ side, singled, and DeGregory followed with a two-run homer off Greene hurler Rebecca Hanrahan. DeGregory was a combined 6-for-6 at the plate in semifinals and finals, and drew a comparison from Smith. “DeGregory is definitely a special player, and she’s a lot like Jessica Winans (Afton graduate),” the Trojans coach said. “She has effortless power. She gets a bat on the ball and just snaps her wrist. If we get through her, I think we’re okay.”